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Tag: Zamfara

  • Zamfara has 2m Almajiris – Official

    Zamfara has 2m Almajiris – Official

    About two million Almajiris are roaming the streets of Zamfara, according to the state Director of Budget, Alhaji Hamza Salisu.

    Salisu made the disclosure on Wednesday in Gusau, at a meeting on Child Development Grant Programme and Strengthening Social Protection System in the state, organised by Save the Children International.

    “Based on the data available to us, there are about two million almajiris across the state which we consider as a big threat to future development of our dear state.

    “Though, government has the power to come up with policies to tackle almajiri issues, but at individuals levels, groups and associations, we have to also contribute in sensitising members of the public in this regard,” Salisu said.

    He urged parents and guardians to take full responsibility of their children to reduce social challenges in the society.

    In his remarks, the Director Legal Matters, Zamfara House of Assembly, Mr Nasiru Jangebe blamed some Islamic scholars for misinterpreting verses of the Qur’an to defend begging in the society.

    Jangebe said street begging had no relation with acquisition of Qur’anic education.

    “Therefore those scholars defending begging in the name of Islam are not teaching the true meaning of the religion,” he contended.

    Jangebe therefore called on government at all levels to come up with policies to tackle street begging especially among children.

    The State Coordinator, Unicef Girl Child Education Projects, Mustafa Shehu, attributed the increase of security challenges in the society to increasing number of out-of-school children and street beggars.

    Shehu however said all stakeholders must join hands in supporting the needy.

    “At individual levels, we have to do something from our homes to sponsor orphans and children of the less privileged in the society,” Shehu added.

    In her contribution, a Deputy Director in the Office of the State Head of Service, UmmuSalma Abubakar, said ignorance and negative perception of issues were some of the factors hindering social protection programmes in the state.

    Abubakar appealed for more collaborative efforts from stakeholders in sensitising members of the public in this regard.

    The Chairman, Zamfara Social Protection Platform, Malam Nasiru Biyabiki, lamented over the issue of girl beggars in the state and urged the state government to take measures to protect underaged children from child labour and abuse.

    He urged the state to adopt a uniform Social Protection Policy and harmonise social protection activities in the state.

    Earlier, the Advocacy and Communication Officer of Save the Children International, Nura Muhammad, said the aim of the meeting was to come up with strategies to push for the signing of Social Protection Policy by the state government.

  • Four prospective corps members kidnapped on their way to orientation camp

    Four prospective corps members travelling to Zamfara State for the NYSC orientation camp, have been kidnapped by unknown gunmen.

    It was learnt that the corps members; three males and a female, and some other graduates from Rufus Giwa Polytechnic were kidnapped around Funtua in Katsina State while the driver fled.

    They were said to have boarded a bus from Owo, Ondo State to the Zamfara State camp ground where they were posted to.

    The NYSC orientation camp for Batch A 2020 opened for prospective corps members on Tuesday, March 10th.

    The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Force, DCP Frank Mba confirmed the incident.

    He disclosed that a manhunt has begun to rescue the kidnapped corps members immediately.

    “It is true that some prospective corps members were kidnapped. Four of them were kidnapped around 11:30 pm.

    “The command has launched a manhunt for their captors in order to ensure their safe rescue.

    ” The command is making progress in its investigation and operation,” Mba added.

  • Zamfara: Gunmen kidnap three councillors, one escapes

    Zamfara: Gunmen kidnap three councillors, one escapes

    Three supervisory councillors of Gummi Local Council in Zamfara state were abducted by gunmen on Thursday, the police said.

    The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Shehu Mohammed confirmed the development to newsmen in Gusau.

    He said that “all three have been released. However, the Chairman of Gummi local government, Kabiru Sarkin Aski, informed newsmen that one of the abducted councillors, Murtala Arzika was able to escape.

    The other two abducted councillors are Lawali AC Milan and Sahabi Abubakar.

    “We are still gathering details and we will make it public after we complete our investigations, but the commercial vehicle that they were driving in, is currently at a police station.”

    Reports from the area had indicated that the abductors demanded for N40 million ransom.

    The command spokesman, however, said the command was not aware of the demand or if it was paid.

    The belief in government and security circles is that the criminal activities are being perpetrated by bandits who refused to embrace the peace initiative introduced by Gov. Bello Matawalle in 2019.

  • Bandits kill village head in fresh attacks on Zamfara communities

    Daredevil bandits have again attacked a village in Dansadau Emirate of Maru Local Government Area of Zamfara State.

    Police spokesman Muhammad Shehu confirmed the attack on Kujemi community, saying in a statement that one of the victims was the village head, and one other person.

    Shehu said the attack took place on Sunday at 8:40pm.

    The police further revealed that the gunmen came to the community in a large number, killing one Malam Gambo and Mustapha Halilu.

    The spokesman said a combined team of policemen and military personnel attached to Operation Puff Adder mobilised on learning of the invasion and went after the assailants.

    The police command appealed for continued support from members of the public through useful information on activities of criminal elements.

  • Zamfara: 8 LGA chairmen defect from APC to PDP

    Zamfara: 8 LGA chairmen defect from APC to PDP

    Eight out of the 14 Local Government Area Council chairmen on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in Zamfara have announced their defection to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    This was contained in a statement signed by Zailani Bappa, Special Adviser (Media) to Gov. Bello Matawalle and made available to journalists in Gusau on Saturday.

    Bappa said the defectors include the chairman of the state’s branch of the Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman of Birnin-Magaji local government, Alhaji Muhammad Umar.

    Others are the ALGON vice-chairman and Chairman of Maru local government, Alhaji Salisu Dangulbi and the association’s Secretary and Chairman of Bukkuyum local government, Alhaji Nasiru Zarumi.

    Also on the list are Chairman of Anka local government and PRO of the association, Alhaji Ahmed Balarabe, Chairman of Kaura-Namoda local government, Alhaji Lawal Abdullahi, chairman of Maradun local government, Alhaji Shehu Faru, as well as the chairmen of Bungudu and Tsafe local governments, Alhaji Abduaziz Nahuche and Alhaji Aminu Mudi respectively.

    He said the announcement by the eight chairmen was the outcome of a meeting they held with the governor, Alhaji Bello Matawalle on Saturday in Gusau.

    The statement quoted the association’s spokesman and Chairman of Anka local government, Alhaji Ahmed Balarabe as saying their decision to join the ruling PDP in the State was as a result of Gov Matawalle’s leadership style in restoring peace and tranquility to all parts of the state within a short period of time.

    Balarabe maintained that political stability, unity and peaceful coexistence witnessed during the first 100 days of the governor in office was an indication of the governor’s people-oriented administration in the state.

    The council chairmen said they defected to the PDP led administration under Governor Bello Matawalle alongside thousands of their supporters.

    They assured of their readiness to rally round the administration and support the Governor to transform the state to an enviable position.

    The council Chairmen prayed that God Almighty in his infinite mercy would give the Governor the wisdom to lead, while the leaders at the grass roots will join the administration for the overall development of the state.

    According to the statement, while receiving the Council chairmen into the party, Gov Matawalle thanked them for their foresight in joining the PDP in the State.

    He pointed out that the party would continue to give equal treatment to all its members.

    He said that his administration would continue to introduce policies and programmes that have direct bearing to the common man.

    He also vowed to ensure rapid development of all towns and villages in the state with a view to meeting the yearnings and aspirations of the electorate.

  • Fire razes NASS member’s residence in Zamfara

    Fire razes NASS member’s residence in Zamfara

    The Zamfara Fire Service Department confirmed on Tuesday in Gusau that fire had razed down the residence of Rep Kabir Mai-Palace who represents Gusau/Tsafe in the House of Representatives.

    Abdullahi Jibo, Deputy Director, Fire Prevention and Public Enlightenment of the Department, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    Jibo said that the fire disaster, which gutted the house located at Anguwar-Yarima area, Gusau was suspected to be caused by a power surge.

    According to him, the department received a distress call from the area around 10:30 a.m. and quickly mobilised its personnel to the scene where the inferno was brought under control.

    “There was no loss of lives or injuries; we were able to bring out two vehicles from the house,” he said.

    The deputy director called on Zamfara residents to ensure careful usage of electrical appliances and report fire outbreaks on time.

    Mr Mustafa Hassan, a staff of the lawmaker, who spoke on the fire incident, described it as “scary”.

    “The incident started around 10 a.m. and razed down the entire house; properties worth millions of naira were burnt to ashes. This is sad,” he said.

  • BREAKING: Bandits abduct Zamfara district head, son

    BREAKING: Bandits abduct Zamfara district head, son

    Bandits have abducted the District Head of Gayari District of Gummi Local Government Area in Zamfara State, Alhaji Hassan Mohammed and his son.

     

    An indigene of the town, Malam Abubakar Sani said the bandits arrived Gayari town Thursday night and went to the district head’s house where they kidnapped him and his son.

     

    Abubakar said the Ak-47 wielding bandits fired gunshots into the air to scare away neighbours who came out to salvage the traditional ruler.
    Abubakar further explained that the kidnappers had earlier kidnapped the district head and his two children, but on their way, one of the children fell off from the motorcycle and ran back home.

     

    Details soon
  • Just in: Supreme Court affirms PDP’s Matawalle winner of Zamfara Gubernatorial election

    Just in: Supreme Court affirms PDP’s Matawalle winner of Zamfara Gubernatorial election

    The Supreme Court has dismissed the case against the Peoples Democratic Party filed by Sani Takori Gummi challenging the victory of Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara state.

    The Court, in a unanimous decision, dismissed the case for lack of merit as the Appellant could not prove the charge of lack of spread by the PDP in the last Gubernatorial elections in Zamfara State.

    The Court ruled that the earlier verdict by the same Court which the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) confirmed the suitability of the PDP as the party that qualified to be sworn into office actually suffices.

    Reacting to the judgement on Thursday afternoon Governor Matawalle said the truth always defies suppression. While dedicating the victory to the good people of Zamfara State, he called on all opposition parties to join hands with his administration to move the state forward.

    “Having gone this far, it is ripe time for all and sundry to now focus on meaningful ventures of finding ways through which we can save our state from its present disadvantages in all sectors of human endeavour”, Governor Matawalle appealed.

  • Gunmen kill two health workers, injure two others in Zamfara

    Gunmen kill two health workers, injure two others in Zamfara

    Two health workers attached to Makosa village in Zurmi Local Government Area of Zamfara State for polio vaccine have been murdered by suspected gunmen while two others were injured.

    The two victims whose names were given as Lawali Suleiman and Aliyu Mohammed were on duty supervising a polio vaccination centre on Tuesday, when a group of armed bandits stormed the village and headed to the centre where the immunisation was taking place.

    It was gathered that the bandits stormed the village around 2.30 p.m. and headed to the Primary Health Center where the polio vaccination was going on and ordered everyone to surrender their belongings.

    According to reports, the health workers refused to surrender their handsets. This provoked the bandits and they opened fire on the health workers, killing them instantly.

    Two other persons also sustained various degrees of injuries and are currently hospitalised at Zurmi General Hospital.

    “After robbing the people of their belongings, the bandits also carted away their animals.” the source said.

    Spokesperson of the State Police Command SP Mohammed Shehu, who confirmed the incident, said that those who launched the attack are part of the recalcitrant bandits who stormed the village with the intention of committing a robbery.

    “The information we received was that the two health workers lost their lives because they didn’t surrender their handsets to the hoodlums who in turn became angry and killed them.” he said.

    He lamented the incident saying the village used to be one of the peaceful areas in the state and assured the villagers that the police would soon fish out those bandits and make them face the wrath of the law.

  • Ex-Gov Yari plotting to cause destabilization in Zamfara, says peace group

    Ex-Gov Yari plotting to cause destabilization in Zamfara, says peace group

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria (PANN) has accused former Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz Yari, of plotting to destabilize the state through sponsored banditry.

    In a press conference in Abuja on Friday, PANN called on concerned patriots to be on the watch and for proactive actions to be taken.

    According to National President, Chinedu Okoli, Mr Yari has been mobilizing bandits and other criminal elements to unleash terror in the state after Governor Bello Matawalle introduced some policies which wasn’t well taken.

    Among such, the peace envoys revealed, was stoppage of the state’s pension law that would have seen the former governor and other political office holders go home with vast amounts of monies at the detriment of the development of the state.

    The group further stated that the ex-governor recruited the services of some local government chairmen to actualize his inordinate ambition.

    The Peace Advocates Network, therefore, resolved that Mr Yari should be held responsible if upsurge of crime and criminalities is recorded in Zamfara and other states in the northwest.

    The group, however, advised the erstwhile governor to desist from this act that could potentially wreck havoc in the state else face the consequences.

    Read full statement below:

    The Peace Advance Network of Nigeria, a civil society organization in Nigeria at the vanguard of the entrenchment of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony wishes to bring to the attention of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on the unholy plot by the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari to cause mayhem in the state through the sponsorship of criminal activities.

    We wish to state that we have it on competent authority that Abdulaziz Yari has been mobilizing bandits and other criminal elements to unleash terror in the state since the governor, Bello Matawalle introduced some far-reaching measures aimed towards putting the state on the path of progress.

    We also wish to state that one of such measures was the repealing of the state’s pension law that would have seen the former governor and other political office holders go home with vast amounts of monies at the detriment of the development of the state.

    This move, which has been applauded by all and sundry in Nigeria, did not go down well with former governor Abdulaziz Yari, and he indeed set up the machinery to make the state ungovernable for the incumbent governor for having the audacity to repeal the pension law in the state.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state that former governor Abdulaziz Yari has also recruited the services of some local government chairmen to actualize his inordinate ambition by recruiting bandits and other criminal elements from various local government areas to begin a campaign of violence on the good and peace-loving people of Zamfara state all in an attempt to discredit Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle. We challenge Gov. Yari to deny this fact or tell Nigerians nothing but the whole truth.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state emphatically that former governor Abdulaziz Yari does not have the interest of the state at heart, not minding the fact that this was a state he governed for eight years and with all the attendants benefits that he derived from office. The high scale insecurity that greeted the State during the last few months or his tenure has a firm root in his mismanagement of the state resources and inability to engage restless youths for any useful purpose.

    Former governor Abdulaziz Yari had vowed to make the state ungovernable since his anointed candidate lost the last governorship elections to the incumbent governor. And this much he has attempted to do in times past but for the intervention of the security agencies in Zamfara state. This wicked, evil and malicious action of Yari has caused the state so much resources to curtail and in most instances death of countless innocent citizens.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to also bring to the attention of the world that should there be a resurgence of criminal activities in Zamfara state, former governor Abdulaziz Yari should be held responsible as impeccable report at our disposal indicates that he purchased over 1, 000 guns and ammunition for militia under the guise of state-sponsored vigilante services. Majority of these elements still bear arms, have refused to subscribe to ongoing efforts by the current administration for amnesty and have co continued to breach the peace of Zamfara State and her neighbouring towns.

    Former governor Abdulaziz Yari is indeed a great disservice to the people of Zamfara state in particular and Nigeria in general through his actions while he held sway as governor for eight years and since his reign as governor ended through his various attempts at instigating one form of conflict or the other. His vow that Zamfara State will know no peace has become the people’s nightmare and doing everything possible to keep the state boiling with its attendant humanitarian crisis.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to state that it is also a known fact that the ex- governor, Abdulaziz Yari harbors disdain for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari for standing on the side of truth and the great efforts towards ending the menace of armed banditry and other criminalities in Zamfara state that were instigated by former governor Abdulaziz Yari.

    It is also instructive to state that since the coming into office of Governor Bello Mohammed Matawalle, the various efforts instituted to fight the menace of armed banditry indeed revealed the nefarious role of former governor Abdulaziz Yari in entrenching crime and criminality in Zamfara State.
    We do not intend to hold brief for the State Government as our major concern is hinged on the need for peace to reign in the country.

    The fact that his anointed candidate that was meant to cover his dirty tracks lost at the elections did open a Pandora’s Box of illegalities that were perpetuated by former governor Abdulaziz Yari in Zamfara State. Whilst the anti-corruption agencies are invited to do their job thoroughly, we as peace advocates will not fold our hands and watch any criminal element deliberately sabotage the peace and healing ongoing across the country and hence the need to cry to the world through this press conference.

    This included the notoriety with which he enriched himself with state resources to the detriment of the people who elected him — sufficing to add the debacle of the Paris Club refund that indeed left a sour taste in the mouth of Nigerians who were shortchanged by ex- governor Abdulaziz Yari and his co-travelers.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to use this medium to inform the members of the general public that should there be an upsurge of crime and criminalities in Zamfara state and other parts of northwest Nigeria, ex- governor Abdulaziz Yari should be held responsible.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria wishes to advise Abdulaziz Yari to desist from his criminal tendencies in the interest of peace. He should have a rethink about sabotaging the state and his acts of economic terrorism. YARI should also stop taking Nigerians for granted as he is not bigger than the constituted authorities in the country.

    The Peace Advocates Network of Nigeria shall not hesitate to call for a demonstration march in protest of the nefarious activities of former governor Abdulaziz Yari. We will also drag him to the ICC for war crimes committed during his tenure and on the radar of the international police for him to answer questions.

    We wish to say Enough is Enough and must be enough for Yari and his agents of darkness.
    Thank you and God bless you for listening.